4 Kinds of Non-IT People Who Can Help Your IT Career

4 Kinds of Non-IT People Who Can Help Your IT Career

Getting ahead in IT involves doing a lot of things right. You can’t do it alone, though! Getting to know other people can be just as helpful as in any other industry. Now, I’m not talking about taking advantage of people, or just using them to get ahead. Instead, these are the kinds of people you should genuinely get to know, in order to find out more about the company and see how everyone can best work together. Let’s have a look at a few different kinds of non-IT people that can help your IT career.

1. The Front Receptionist

The receptionist in your office is a great person to get to know! They’re the ones responsible for taking calls for the office, accepting deliveries and visitors, and possibly organizing visitor passes and other events. Getting to know the receptionist is helpful.

Receptionists are very involved in an office and have a lot of interaction with other people. If you’re on good terms with the receptionist, it can be beneficial. They can let you know when certain people come and go, especially if you’re expecting someone from another company or office. They are often quite aware of what’s happening around the office, and can let you know some of the details if you’re interested.

2. The Manager’s Personal Assistant

Many senior people in an organization are busy and have a lot that they need to do. This is why they hire a personal assistant. A personal assistant, or PA, is generally someone who works with a senior manager and organizes their work life for them.

They are responsible for setting up meetings, taking calls, booking flights and hotels, sending emails to groups of people, and making general arrangements. Similarly to a receptionist, it’s good to get to know them to find out what’s happening within the company.

Another good reason to get to know the PA is that you’ll get more visibility with their manager. If you’re getting your name mentioned in front of senior management, it’s a very good thing, especially if the PA can put in a good word for you.

3. Those-Who-Know-Everything-In-The-Office

Every office has this kind of person. They are the single most knowledgeable person in the company. In some cases, it seems like they know everything!

Do you need to get new stationery ordered? They will know who to call. Do you need to book a meeting room? They will know how. Do you need to claim an expense receipt? Set up access in a HR system? Get your IT issue fast-tracked? Find out who to talk with to get more information? This is the person who will know what, who, how, and where to do all of these tasks.

It’s good to first identify who this person is, and then get to know them. This isn’t just to use them for their knowledge—it’s good to know everyone in the office—I’m suggesting that this kind of person can help you do your job better, and it’s easier to do that if they’re friendly with you.

4. Building Security

The security officers in the building are important people to know. You probably won’t have a lot to do with them, so it can be hard to get to know them, but it’s also useful.

They are probably responsible for setting up your security pass and showing you in and out of the building occasionally. They’re also around to keep an eye on the place after hours. In some cases, you may be required to work extra hours to get work done. At these times it can be helpful to know the security team, as it can make it easier getting in and out of the building and office, which can help your career in the long term.